Many actors and actresses appear to compete not only for the Oscar but also its golden glow, splurging on these tanning pros.

FIONA LOCKE

Ms. Locke, a native Dubliner, moved to Los Angeles a decade ago to work as a TV spokeswoman and built a sunless tanning business instead. “It became a substitute for body makeup,” she said. She’s now a skin finishing expert for the brand St. Tropez, which claims to have eradicated the smelly self-tan. “It’s similar to Febreze as it balances the pH of your skin,” she said. Her clients have included Amy Poehler and Sienna Miller. ($150 to $200)

NATALIA ARMONIK

Based in the Kinara Skin Care Clinic and Spa in West Hollywood, Ms. Armonik said that she aims to give clients like Sofia Vergara and Elizabeth Banks a glow that looks as if “they just came back from a Hawaii vacation.” The color lasts about 7 to 10 days, and with all the gowns with thigh-high slits, she said, “legs are the most popular part of the body, so I pay extra attention.” Before applying the bronzing solution, Ms. Armonik often primes her clients by exfoliating with the spa’s own concoction of peptides, lecithin and honey. She’s also a relative bargain. ($60 to $80)

JIMMY COCO

In 2003, Mr. Coco, then a touring Chippendales dancer and aspiring actor, turned spray tanner after tiring of the audition hustle. “I did always have body makeup or tanning on my mind,” he said. “I have a wine-stain birthmark on my chest and I always had to lay out in the sun to burn it, so it would blend in. But never in a million years did I think I’d be doing this.” Mr. Coco has become the go-to bronzer for the Victoria’s Secret runway show and said he sees Kim Kardashian about twice a month. He takes special care on the décolletage as it’s the area most often highlighted on the red carpet. ($350)